In one of my favorite television shows, “Futurama,” there is a running gag that in the future, the word “ask” has been replaced by the more colloquial “aks” (pronounced axe). It might be a long time before the accepted spellings and pronunciations of common words like “ask” change, but the joke highlights a very real aspect of language: it evolves. The English language has changed a lot over the past 150 years, for example, in both spelling, pronunciation, and addition and subtraction of words. SitePoint » 8 Sites for Watching English Evolve.
8 Sites for Watching English Evolve
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#1 by RYErnest on November 29th, 2008, 23:01
Nice post u have here
Added to my RSS reader
#2 by Robin on January 21st, 2009, 23:56
I provide personal coaching via the internet using IRC. The primary skill in coaching and therapy is listening and I have become more and more involved in reflecting on the problems fostered by conflicted usage of words. The evolution of English reflects the development of its culture rather than some more inevitable linear and upward development. As the need to use language to function or survive changes so the need to express complexity and to understand also changes. The English language, as used within a particular culture, develops to make the expression of stereotypical concepts easier. The corollary is that it mitigates against the expression of non-stereotypical concepts. Especially in a globalising world this could result in native English speakers actually becoming disadvantaged.
sincerely robin